Peru boasts vast natural mineral resources, but rapid population growth and economic challenges have hindered the country’s progress. In 2008, Water For People’s board of directors added Peru to the South American region. This strategic decision allowed Water For People to deepen its interventions in the region and complement work in neighboring Bolivia.
Although official water and sanitation coverage rates for Peru are 84% and 72% respectively, numbers in many rural areas barely reach 30%. The 2007 World Water Corps scoping team to Peru noted that Water For People could have a significant impact in Peru because of the government’s strong commitment to provide safe and reliable drinking water, the lack of water and sanitation services throughout the country, the availability of local partners, and the lack of other NGOs working in the sector. Because Peru has geographic and cultural contexts similar to those of Ecuador and Bolivia, lessons learned from working in these areas will strengthen the Peruvian program from the outset.
The World Water Corps® created a baseline assessment of Peru in October 2009, focusing on two regions,La Libertad and Cajamarca. The team produced a map illustrating the region’s present water and sanitation conditions, providing key information to plan for water and sanitation investments in the regions. In addition, the organization has partnered with a local private sector company-AugaEcoSan Peru to promote a buisness model to sanitation. Cosistent with Water For People's thought leadership activities, the organization is participating in–an International Conference on Sustainable Sanitation in Lima in 2010.
